Richmond Divorce Attorney | Family Lawyers in Richmond
Sugar Land Child Custody Attorney
One of the most emotionally and psychologically challenging legal processes is divorce. The person you thought would be your partner for a lifetime is now someone you no longer recognize. You may have spent months or years compromising, arguing, and sacrificing, but one or both of you have decided your relationship is no longer possible to maintain.
When you and your spouse have children together, divorce becomes exceedingly more complex. Ideally, both of you will come up with a fair child custody agreement in an amicable manner outside of the courtroom. But this isn’t the case for many couples, and determining an arrangement that is best for your children may be impossible without the help of a legal professional.
At The Vendt Law Firm, P.L.L.C., our founding attorney has years of experience helping parents in Sugar Land establish legal arrangements that reflect what their children need. As a parent who has experienced this process himself, Attorney Vendt understands what you are going through and will work tirelessly to help you attain the best possible outcome for your case.
Learn more about what our firm can do for your Sugar Land family by calling (832) 276-9474 today.
Understanding Child Custody in Sugar Land, Texas
In recent years, split families have become increasingly more common in the United States. While it may be comforting to know that countless other families are going through the same experience as you, it doesn’t make it any less difficult.
Our goal at The Vendt Law Firm, P.L.L.C. is to help you understand every step of the process and the nuances of Texas family law. We empower our clients by showing them what they can expect and restoring their sense of control over their present and future.
In Texas, courts consider a wide variety of factors before establishing a final arrangement. These factors may include:
- The child’s physical, psychological, and emotional needs
- Each parent’s capacity to care and provide for the child
- Whether each parent intends to nourish or sabotage the relationship between the child and the other parent
- How each parent cared for the child before filing for divorce
- The child’s preference (depending on their age and maturity)
In some cases, neither parent may be granted conservatorship. If the parents are mentally impaired, in jail, deceased, or otherwise unavailable, the court may grant conservatorship to another family member.
Texas courts refer to custody as conservatorship. Family courts tend to favor joint-managing conservatorships (i.e. equally shared custody). In fact, researchers in recent years have discovered that young children experience less psychological issues in joint conservatorships than in sole conservatorships.
The court may instead establish a sole-managing conservatorship (i.e. sole custody) if it finds one or more of the following:
- One parent lives a significant distance away from the other
- The child is over 12 years old and prefers one parent over the other
- One parent lacks a stable and appropriate living space
- One parent is unfit for custody due to abuse/neglect, addictions, criminal history, or routine absence
If you believe your co-parent is unfit for conservatorship, you will need to provide proof. Even with well-documented evidence, however, obtaining sole conservatorship can be an arduous process—especially if your co-parent has obtained legal counsel and plans to use any means necessary in an attempt to sway the court in their favor.
If you are a father, you may fear that the court will automatically grant sole conservatorship to your child’s mother. Attorney Vendt felt this same fear himself when he and his wife divorced, but he successfully fought for shared custody, and he wants to help you do the same.
In some cases, one co-parent will use manipulative and even illegal tactics to secure sole conservatorship. They may accuse you of abusing your child, or they could convince your child to say negative things about you in court. In some of the worst cases we’ve seen, one parent will intimidate, harass, or threaten the other. Fortunately, when a Texas court discovers this behavior, it will most likely favor the victimized parent. With our support, you can demonstrate to the court why your co-parent is unfit for custody.
What Happens When a Parent Violates the Custody Agreement?
While every case is unique, both parents must adhere to the terms of the conservatorship once it is finalized in court. Unfortunately, the custody battle is not necessarily over at this point. One parent may consistently disregard the arrangement, leading to additional time in mediation or court.
Parents may violate the conservatorship by:
- Regularly returning a child to the other parent later than the schedule dictates
- Taking the child outside of scheduled time or without the other parent’s consent
- Disregarding established terms regarding healthcare, religion, etc.
- Taking the child to appointments or activities during the other parent’s time
- Committing parental alienation (i.e. badmouthing or lying about the other parent)
If your co-parent is violating the conservatorship, we will help you document this behavior and advocate for an adjustment to the arrangement in court.
Child Custody Cases Outside of Divorce
Not all child custody cases result from divorce. A mother may be looking to prove paternity in order to secure child support, or a father may do so to obtain custody. In another instance, both parents may still be married but one parent is attempting to obtain the legal right to make all decisions for the child. In cases involving family violence, one parent may go to court for an emergency protective order and custody arrangement. At The Vendt Law Firm, P.L.L.C., we have seen it all, and we are more than prepared to work with your unique needs and develop the most effective strategy possible.
Get in Touch with Our Firm for Skilled and Compassionate Support
If you need to fight for your parental rights, we would like to support you every step of the way. Our goal is to help parents obtain the legal arrangements that are best for their children. We have developed a thorough, insider-level understanding of how family courts operate and what you will need to prove in order to obtain conservatorship. While we will do everything we can to help you preserve the relationships that matter most, we are not afraid to fight aggressively for the best interests of both you and your child.
Contact us at (832) 276-9474 or schedule your initial consultation to get started today.
